What is the Best Skin Care for Men?

Recently my good friend Skittle asked me to review men’s skin care.  It sounded like a lot of work, given that I’m not a man and all, but I decided to give it a try.

Turns out that men’s skin is not that much different from women’s.  Granted, the differences are complicated, given that it simultaneously produces more oil (thanks to more sweat glands) and requires more hydration to achieve the same level of suppleness (due to its thicker surface), according to dermatologist Dr. Jaggi Rao.   However, many of the same ingredients that work on women’s skin will achieve similar results for men.  I suggest the big five:  retinoids, sunscreen (broad-spectrum UVA/UVB with an SPF of at least 30 everyday), peptides, niacinamide, and loads of antioxidants.  Plus regular consultations with a dermatologist!

With that said, here are reviews of some of my favorite men’s skin care lines on the market today.

1.  Anthony: Logistics for Men

I love this line because its products feature a lot of proven-effective ingredients.  Some can’t-miss products include the Glycolic Acid Cleanser, Vitamin C Serum, Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15, and Vitamin A Moisturizer (for night).  In general, I choose products from this line for my father because it has a high concentration of proven ingredients, excellent well-tolerated formulations, and medium price point.  Best for:  Normal and combination skin, Medium price range

2.  ZIRH

I think of ZIRH as a lot like Anthony: Logistics for Men, but have found the ZIRH products to be a bit stronger.  In fact, I’ve tested both cleansers on my hands at different times, but found that the ZIRH left them feeling dry (which is saying something when you’re a beauty blogger who tests products on her hands all the time)!  While it’s harder to compare entire lines – it’s much easier to compare individual products – in general, I would say ZIRH is better for men with oily skin.  Also, if you are a man who will give up on your skin care unless you see immediate results, then I would also choose ZIRH over Anthony: Logistics for Men; it simply gives that instant ‘zing!’

The ZIRH skin care line runs the gamut from the tried-and-true to the trendy (herbal eye cream, all botanical oils, etc.)  That said,there are some excellent products in this line, including the Alpha Hydroxy Face Wash and the Defend Moisturizer SPF 15.  Best for:  Oily skin, high-potency products

3.  Alfred and Hoff

I think of Alfred and Hoff like the Rolex of men’s skin care:  it’s flashy, with a luxury-point price tag, but it has a slew of excellent working components to back it up (antioxidants, peptides, and sunscreen).  Alfred and Hoff products also feature a sirtuin-stimulating complex, with the idea behind sirtuins being similar to that of resveratrol in red wine:  that is, turning off unnecessary gene expression in collagen-producing cells, called fibroblasts.  The idea is that fibroblasts will last longer if they aren’t expending more energy than they need to on unnecessary tasks.  Pretty neat!

The line consists of 7 products, including the can’t-miss moisturizer with SPF, serum, eye cream, and a microdermabrasion product.  I really love the microdermabrasion product – it’s very effective, similar to those marketed for women, but without the feminine colors and fragrance.  Just be careful not to use it immediately after shaving.  (If you shave in the morning, use the microdermabrasion scrub at night).  Best for:  Men who have to have what’s new, in vogue, or ‘the best of everything’; High price point

4.  Neutrogena Men Active Protect Skin Care

This line has a few problems.  For one, the only retinoid cream has an SPF, but retinoids make the skin more sensitive to the sun and hence should optimally be used at night.  For another, its main soothing ingredient is soy, which has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid (a natural hydrator) in a 2005 study in the journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. However, in the same study, soy has also been shown to reduced the number of hair follicles (dermal papillae) on the skin.  Combined with the fact that soy also has very minor, but still mentionable estrogenic effects, I just wish Neutrogena had chosen a different skin-soothing ingredient!

With that said, of the drug store brands out there today, this line still has a lot going for it.  The sunscreen has an SPF 50 – almost unheard of in a men’s line! – and the cleanser contains salicyclic acid, which will increase the efficacy of the other skin care products and ingredients.  And given the fact that a lot of blue-blooded men would rather die than set foot at a cosmetics counter, the low price point and availability of this line at drugstores and grocery stores makes it a winner.  Best for:  Drugstore brands, High SPF, Low price point

5.  Kinerase

Although this line is not marketed for men (Courtney Cox is a former spokeswoman), it is excellent for sensitive skin that are not able to tolerate alpha hydroxy acids (i.e., glycolic acid) or retinoids (i.e., vitamin A).   Although it is not often discussed, men can have sensitive skin and experience irritation from using too many harsh products.  As such, if you are a man who has had such experiences with skin care, perhaps Kinerase is a good option for you.  As always, speak to your dermatologist.  Best for:  Men with sensitive skin

Bottom Line

A lot of really great skin care lines for men are on the market today!  If you liked this post and would like to discuss further, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or comment below!